Pairwise Appoints Ryan Bartlett as Chief Technology Officer

Pairwise, a company at the intersection of health-focused food and agriculture, applying innovative gene-editing technology to specialty produce and commodity crops, today announced Ryan Bartlett as its new Chief Technology Officer. With a Ph.D. in genetics and biochemistry from The University of Kansas and a rich professional background in agricultural R&D and product innovation, Bartlett’s appointment is set to reinforce Pairwise’s growth momentum following its first product launch, Conscious™ Greens, the inaugural CRISPR food product introduced to the U.S. market.

“I am thrilled to join an established team of Pairwise scientists working to revolutionize what we consume. The industry is at a tipping point, and Pairwise is leading the charge,” Bartlett remarked.

Bartlett has 17 years of industry experience, spearheading product development in multiple sectors. Contributions like the Rocket Seeds™ nutritional seed treatment and DEKALB® Disease Shield® Corn mark his leadership in bringing over 15 new agricultural technologies to the market. Bartlett’s profound enthusiasm for innovation lies at the nexus of agriculture and technology, a passion that Pairwise is confident will fuel further growth.

Tom Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Pairwise, stated, “Ryan is a visionary in food and agriculture whose career has taken him through various leadership roles where he has overseen trait discovery and strategic product development. His expertise in operational efficiency and growth will be invaluable to Pairwise as we look beyond the launch of our first commercial product.”

Bartlett joins Pairwise from Compass Minerals International (CMP), where he held numerous positions, including VP of Innovation, Chief Strategy Officer, and most recently, Senior Vice President of Lithium Commercial and Technology. Before CMP, Bartlett held several technology leadership roles at Monsanto Company, including Global Technology Development Innovation Lead.

“Pairwise is an exhilarating company that allows me to utilize my experience and leadership in agriculture, life sciences, and corporate strategy to shape the next generation of produce and row crops by deploying groundbreaking technologies,” Bartlett added.

Recently, Pairwise unveiled its flagship product, Conscious™ Greens, into the U.S. food service channel. The nutrient-dense salad blend includes greens gene-edited to reduce their wasabi-like pungency. The company managed to move the product from concept to commercialization in an unprecedented four years, demonstrating the efficacy of the company’s Fulcrum™ Platform in expediting breeding processes that sometimes took decades. Pairwise is developing new types of leafy greens, berries, and cherries using CRISPR and other emerging technologies.

In February 2021, Pairwise raised $90 million in a successful Series B funding round, bringing its total fundraising to $115 million. Since its inception five years ago, the company has grown to over 150 employees and anticipates further expansion later this year as it gears up to penetrate the retail market.